Local councillor and deputy leader of Carmarthenshire council Kevin Madge told BBC Wales the station was now only open during the day and much of the building was not used.

"The promise was a Rolls-Royce police station when it was being built and we've ended up with a Mini and people are very angry," he said.

"In fairness to the chief constable he has inherited this and is being honest.

"This is an example of the worst of PFI."

BBC Wales has asked Dyfed-Powys Police to clarify how well used the station is.

"Fundamental reassessment"

The Conservatives in Westminster introduced PFI in 1992 to allow private companies to finance, build and run public sector projects including hospitals, schools and council offices.

It was expanded under Labour although Chancellor George Osborne announced a "fundamental reassessment" of the use of PFI contracts in November in a bid to cut costs.

Plaid Cymru AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas, whose constituency includes Ammanford, said: "Given the tough economic climate and a 41% cut in capital funding from the UK government, we cannot be tempted to continue with such an expensive funding method."

He said his party had suggested setting up a not-for-distributable profit company with the potential to raise up to £500m for infrastructure projects in Wales.

The Welsh government said PFI was "discredited" and it did not use it.

A spokesperson said: "We are actively exploring other opportunities, including pressing the UK government to allow us to exercise our borrowing powers and considering innovative ways of raising capital including 'not for profit' and public/private partnerships."